What actually happened
Musk called 2019 'the year of the solar roof' at the Mar 14 2019 Model Y unveil. It was not — installations were minimal (estimated under ~1,000 total integrated solar roofs by 2021), and Tesla badly missed its 1,000-per-week install target. Tesla then discontinued Solar Roof in August 2026 (site redirects to panels; installers told new tile orders are closed). The 2019 year claim stays missed. TechCrunch Aug 21 2026 — Solar Roof discontinued; 2019 'year of the roof' already missed ↗
At the 2016 unveil Musk said a Solar Roof would cost less than a normal roof. In 2017 he said Spanish tile and French slate styles would be in production by early 2018. In March 2019 he called 2019 "the year of the solar roof," and in July 2019 he hoped to make about 1,000 roofs a week by the end of the year.
None of it happened. Only the flat glass tile shipped, installs stayed far below 1,000 a week, and a Solar Roof costs roughly $50 to $63 a square foot, far more than a normal roof. Tesla discontinued Solar Roof in August 2026.
At the Model Y unveiling in March 2019, Musk declared that 2019 was 'definitely going to be the year of the solar roof and PowerWall.' The statement promised a breakout year for Tesla's residential energy products. Instead, the year closed with only limited solar roof installations, and the prediction was missed.
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